After a long day of climbing most us the team
returned back in Base Camp today. The night before we all slept in Camp 1 at
5700m and the next morning we set off to explore and make a carry to camp 2.

The route to camp 2 is very interesting. It's all rock climbing on very good
quality rock. The route traverses along ledges to avoid most of the
difficulties, but just before camp 2 there is a big structure called the
yellow tower. This tower can't be avoided and is the crux of the whole climb.

If you would have to free climb this pitch it would be quite a challenge, but
with the use of fixed ropes it is a lot easier. Specially if you carry a pack.
The whole team was able to climb this section without big problems.

Now are back in base. Our acclimatization is finished. We will rest and
recover here and try to choose the right day for our summit push.

High Altitude Greetings,

Arnold Coster, Expedition leader

21 October 

Hello! This is Jennifer Bohn giving a shout out from basecamp, Ama Dablam. Our
expedition is going very well. Weather is very good & our leader, Arnold is
fantastic! His laugh alone is enough to inspire you up the mountain. Today is
a rest day in BC. Tomorrow we hike up to Camp 1 again. We are on schedule if
not a little bit ahead. Sending love to everyone at home! Peace out or Nameste
as they say.

18 October 

We did our acclimatization hike to advanced Base Camp today at 5300m. The
whole team is strong and make it in good time up there. The weather is nice,
but a bit cold and windy. Today also our staff pitched our tents and kitchen
in ABC.

Tomorrow we will have our Base Camp Puja and after lunch we will head back up
and spend our first night on the mountain. We will try to reach Camp 1 and
then come back down for a rest in Base Camp again.

Looking forward to get more close to the route,

Greetings,

Arnold Coster, Expedition leader

17 October 

Today we had a day of training in Base Camp. In the morning we went over the
usage off the Gamov bag, this is a portable compression chamber we can use to
treat altitude sickness. It very easy to use and an important part of our
safety equipment.

After lunch we had some rope practice on one off the rock above base camp. We
just reviewed some ascending and rappelling techniques to make sure we are all
on the same pass.

Tomorrow we will do our acclimatization hike to Advanced Base Camp and return
back to Base Camp again. Followed by our Base Camp puja the next day.

So all is well,

Greetings, Arnold Coster Expedition Leader.

16 October -

This morning we had our expedition blessed by Lama Geshi in Pangboche.

Traditionally all expedition who pass Pangboche visit this Lama, a Buddhist
high priest. He reads a special prayer for our expedition to explain the
mountain god of Ama Dablam that we will do no harm.

Our equipment and personal luggage left early this morning on Yaks to Base
Camp, so when we arrived in the camp it was already set up.

Our cook Dorje cooked us a delicious fresh meal and our first dinner in our
new home.

Tomorrow we will do some rope practice in Base camp, just to review our skills
and a little bit of exercise to improve our acclimatization.

The team is strong and everybody is doing well.

Greetings,

Arnold Coster, expedition leader

15 October -

The 12th we left Kathmandu, it was a long wait due to weather on the airport
before we finally took off and flew to Lukla.

There was a small gap in the clouds and Lukla airport opened briefly in the
afternoon, just enough time to get us there and start our expedition.

The same day we still managed to walk to Phakding and spend our first night in
the mountains.

The next morning we woke up early for our hike to Namche Bazar. Its a
beautifull walk true the pine forest alongside the Duth Koshi river.

Just before Namche the trail goes up a long hill before we reach namche.

Namche is the Sherpa capital in Nepal, its a nice place to hang out and has
many shops, restaurants, bakeries etc

Today we walked to the Everest view point and had our first view on Everest
and Ama Dablam.

Tomorrow the Ama Dablam and Island peak groups will go separate ways. Both
expeditions will dispatch separate about their trip.

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